When it comes to hair coloring, you may already be familiar with different types of hair coloring techniques and how they work. But do you know how to bleach your hair, and what does it take to have platinum blond hair? This is one of the things many women dream to achieve.
This dramatic change can damage your hair if you don’t know what you are doing. While the DIY method isn’t recommended since it requires professional help, we will explain how to bleach your hair, including how long to leave bleach in it.
How does hair bleach work?
Bleach is a strong chemical that breaks down proteins in your hair. By doing this, it lightens your hair over time. When proteins break down, the strands become lighter and paler until all the coloring disappears from their core.
Bleach alters the natural pigment of your hair, leading to a series of lightning effects. This formula first opens the cuticle to penetrate and change your hair color, then closes it after the process has been completed.
In order to bleach your hair safely, you need to know which bleach to buy. In other words, the one that won’t damage your hair too much. Many studies have shown that bleach reacts differently with different hair types. For instance, the effects on darker hair won’t be the same as those on lighter hair. Also, texture is important because curly and thicker hair reacts differently than thin and weak hair.
Can bleach damage my hair?
While bleaching your hair is relatively easy, affordable, and easy, don’t be fooled because it’s damaging, especially if you use harsh chemicals found in hair bleach kits. Of course, this might not be the case with all dyes, and not everyone experiences the same side effects
Some common problems hair problems include:
- Dryness – bleach tends to remove or strip natural oils from the scalp
- Brittleness – bleach causes hair to lose the moisture
- Damage – chemicals, mostly ethanol, and ammonia, damage hair
How long should I leave bleach in my hair?
No universal rule applies to this, but it’s always recommended to follow the instructions provided on the kit you are using. Don’t leave the bleach longer than recommended; otherwise, it will damage your hair.
The longer you leave your bleach, the more it will destroy protein bonds. As previously mentioned, there are two types of bleach: one contains ammonia, and the other contains hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options you can explore that won’t damage your hair.
You may find products with a peroxide-free label, but this is just a trick companies use. Instead of hydrogen peroxide, there might be another oxidizing agent that could be even more harmful.
So, how long can you leave bleach on hair, in the table below we will give you some guidelines, you can follow every time you use home bleach kits.
Keep in mind that factors such as hair texture and color affect the time.
- Blond hair: 15 – 20 minutes
- Dark hair: 30 minutes; you should split this process into several sessions, not bleach your hair at once if you want to get the desired results
- Fine hair: 10-15 minutes; with fine hair, this process is quicker due to a thinner cuticle.
- Coarse hair: 30 minutes; this hair type is more challenging to work with and may require at least two applications.
How long to leave bleach on hair 40 vol? This is a common question, and we recommend you not leave bleach for longer than 20 minutes. Again, pay attention to your hair color, texture, and type.
What happens if you leave bleach longer?
A common misconception is that bleach will work better if you leave it longer. The maximum amount of time is 30 minutes. If you break down this time limit, you risk damaging your hair.
Your hair may turn white, become weak, and lose its moisture. This chemical can make your hair porous, and your hair could lose keratin, its main component.
Without keratin, the hair structure is compromised, brittle, and difficult to style. Unfortunately, you can hardly avoid keratin loss when bleaching your hair.
Precaution measure
Before bleaching your hair at home, there are some important things to keep in mind:
It is necessary to perform a patch test to check whether you are allergic to some components found in the bleach kit. Rub a drop or two of a solution on your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. You shouldn’t use the dye if the skin turns red, swollen, or blistering.